"Pullman City, Portland, Oregon" c. 1940

This photograph titled, "Pullman City, Portland, Oregon," was made at an unknown date, by an anonymous artist. There's a lovely ambiguity to the image, a quietness in its silvery tones. The composition is bisected by the railway, creating a central corridor occupied by figures frozen in time. The rough surface of the print, speckled with imperfections, adds to its antiquated allure. It's like a memory, a ghost of the past. The texture reminds me of early photography, where the hand of the artist is still very present in the development process. Look at the way the light catches the edges of the train carriages, how the shadows deepen around the figures. These details construct an immersive space, inviting us to step into a bygone era. It makes me think of other early photographers, like Eugène Atget, who captured the disappearing streets of Paris. It's this sense of preservation, this attempt to hold onto a fleeting moment, that resonates so deeply. It's a reminder that art is not just about what we see, but how we remember.